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PACT at WSP

Simply put, 'PACT' is our voluntary personal carbon tracking scheme for staff and the first business-led scheme of its kind.  Through PACT, our staff can track and manage their personal carbon impacts outside of work and take steps to reduce their carbon footprint.

How it all began

Launched in 2007, PACT enjoyed a successful two year trial within our UK business.  Staff uptake was great and a PhD study showed that on average participants reduced their carbon footprint by around 10% in the first year of taking part.  The scheme's now available across our global business and we've 800 staff measuring, reducing and being rewarded for keeping their personal carbon footprint low.

So how does PACT work?

The scheme is simple.  Participants are given a yearly carbon emission allowance and the tools to track their activities.  Staff give a quarterly snapshot of their home energy usage, personal travel and work commute, and the tool calculates their carbon footprint.  At the end of the year staff under their allowance receive a bonus, while those in the carbon red pay into the pot.

We have an online portal where participants log their data (take a look at www.wsppact.com).  We also share good practice through monthly PACT newsletters and nominate a 'Carbon Hero' in our business each month.  Plus we have a range of affinity agreements to help staff reduce carbon footprint and save money.

What our staff say

Staff have found PACT really useful and engaging.  For some, it's really influenced their carbon management behaviours, whilst in others, PACT was a driver for them joining WSP:

"Knowing that I'm recording the information helps me think about whether certain travel is necessary & reminds me to switch off that standby light on the TV."

Martina Girvan, Associate

Julian Eslworth also said:

"It was initiatives like PACT that made me want to work for a company like WSP - they actually practice what they preach and care about sustainability issues."

Much media interest

PACT has generated intense media interest in the UK, featuring in The Times newspaper and attracting coverage across the BBC TV & Radio network.  The media coverage prompted overwhelming support for the scheme and we're very proud of its high profile.

The Guardian Online even commented:

"Employees know that the company shares their environmental values and is willing to commit financially to a greener future.  The cash benefit (or loss) may not be huge, but the physchological impact certainly is "

Running PACT in your business

Our clients love PACT too.  We've recently welcomed 11 organisations onto the scheme, including Cisco Systems UK and 5 London boroughs, so now, with the inclusion of our client's teams, PACT boasts over 1,000 participants.

For more on how you can implement PACT within your organisation, please contact David Symons.  You can reach David at david.symons@wspgroup.com or +44 (0)20 7314 5725.